Irvine Spectrum food court to close

The Cafes at the Oasis has four eateries that will stay open until Dec. 31, after which the food court will be renovated to make room for Irvine Improv. Rubio's closed at the food court in November. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Irvine Spectrum Center is shuttering its food court Dec. 31 to make way for a supersize Improv theater.

"We are closing the food court simply because Irvine Spectrum Center has evolved into the kind of shopping and entertainment destination with a much more dynamic, outdoorsy, alfresco setting," said Stacie Ellis, senior director of Marketing for the Irvine Co. Retail Properties. "The biggest factor in this decision was the opportunity to adapt to the changing times."

At its new location, the Irvine Improv will be bigger – more than doubling its current size of more than 6,800 square feet to more than 15,000, Ellis said. The new venue, which is slated to debut late next year, will offer other forms of live entertainment, in addition to comedy, according to Robert Hartmann, CEO of Levity Entertainment group, which owns that Improv.

The conversion of the food court into an entertainment venue makes sense for the Spectrum, said retail analyst Greg Stoffel, principal at Stoffel and Associates in Irvine. "It's a good move. The Improv was limited from a size standpoint where it's at but it's done really well there. The Improv is a destination that people will seek out – and that location is one that cries out for a destination."

The Spectrum is the third Orange County mall to close its food court in two years. The Cafes at the Oasis closure exemplifies how some shopping centers are eschewing the traditional collection of cafeteria-style eateries in favor of adding a mix of restaurants and entertainment venues.

Island Terrace, one of two food courts at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, closed in 2010 to make way for movie theaters with leather seats and high-end concession fare while consolidating some fast-food tenants – including Wahoo's Fish Taco – at the Atrium Court's food court. The change was part of a large-scale renovation that included the elimination of a carousel and a fountain.

Last year, Laguna Hills Mall shuttered its upper-level food court. The mall is "de-leasing" in preparation for undisclosed renovations that are part of a $55 million development project that will "significantly change the character of the mall," according to a year-end report from Laguna Hills city manager Bruce E. Channing.

Food courts are still thriving at other O.C. retail venues such as Brea Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo, Stoffel said.

But at the Irvine Spectrum Center and Laguna Hills Mall, the food courts were heading into obsolescence.

"If they were really doing great as far as sales go, there would have been no reason to close them," Stoffel said.

The food court at the Spectrum increasingly became less relevant, Stoffel said. "Unfortunately, as the center developed out, it no longer was convenient to visitors at other parts of the center and there are plenty of casual restaurants near the Ferris wheel at the other end of the center."

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill, one of the five fast-food restaurants at the food court, closed in November. The remaining four eateries – Bella Pizza & Calzones, Charley's Grilled Subs, Charley Kabob and Wasabi – plan to stay open until the end of the year.

"While we have had a wonderful experience at Irvine Spectrum, at the end of November we chose not to renew our lease," said Ken Hull, senior vice president of development of Rubio's.

On New Year's Eve, Rivaldi Hartopo, manager at Wasabi, will serve the last of the combo meals.

With the impending exit of the other eateries, Hartopo wonders where his regular customers will go for fast, lower-priced meals. Wasabi's busiest period is during the lunch hour, when customers arrive mostly from the office buildings near the Spectrum, Hartopo said. "They cannot find another $6.75 combo anywhere else in this big mall," he said.

The Spectrum is not doing away with more affordable food choices, according to Ellis. "If anything, Irvine Spectrum Center is known for providing a diverse array of dining options for our shoppers and we've been bringing in some of the best names in dining in all categories," Ellis said. "We will still offer plenty of fast-casual and affordable eateries with quick service and great food, from Chipotle to Veggie Grill and more recent openings include Luna Grill, a great Mediterranean grill with healthy grilled kabobs and salads and Pieology, a build-it-yourself pizza concept."

The Cafes at the Oasis has four eateries that will stay open until Dec. 31, after which the food court will be renovated to make room for Irvine Improv. Rubio's closed at the food court in November. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Linc Erickson of Lake Forest, from left, William Savastano of Aliso Viejo and and Patrick Eleazar of Laguna Hills have lunch at the Food Court which is slated to close at Irvine Spectrum Center to make way for the Irvine Improv which will be leaving its current location at the center. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Luis Tobar and Lexy Tobar, 5, of Irvine leave the Food Court which is being closed at Irvine Spectrum Center to make way for the Irvine Improv, which will be leaving its current location at the center. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Irvine Improv is moving to a bigger location in 2013 at the Irvine Spectrum Center. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Irvine Improv plans to add live entertainment to its lineup at its new location at the Irvine Spectrum Center. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Irvine Spectrum Center is going for a mix of restaurants and entertainment in addition to stores. KAREN TAPIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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